Proceedings of the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs
Issue 6 - Evidence - May 28, 2008
OTTAWA, Wednesday, May 28, 2008
The Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, to which was referred Bill C-287, An Act respecting a National Peacekeepers' Day, met this day at 12:10 p.m.
Senator Michael A. Meighen (Chair) in the chair.
[English]
The Chair: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to call to order this meeting of the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence.
[Translation]
My name is Michael Meighen and I am a senator from Ontario. I wish to draw everyone's attention to the fact that we have a very busy schedule this morning and that we all want to reach a more than satisfactory outcome.
We want our deliberations to succeed. So I repeat that must absolutely finish by 1:30 p.m., including clause-by- clause consideration, if this is the wish of the committee.
Let me begin by introducing the senators who are present. On my left is Senator Percy E. Downe from Prince Edward Island.
[English]
Senator Downe has had a long-standing interest in veteran affairs and been a faithful and effective attendee at our meetings. Senator Nancy Ruth from Ontario is a feminist activist and a very active participant in our deliberations. Senator Romeo Dallaire is known to many of you having had a number of very successful careers and he is now a successful senator. We welcome Senator Dallaire, as always, to our deliberations.
Today we are considering Bill C-287, An Act respecting a National Peacekeepers' Day. Bill C-287 intends to declare August 9 as a national peacekeepers' day. As is explained in the bill, on August 9, 1974, nine Canadian Forces peacekeepers were killed while on a peacekeeping mission when their plane was shot down flying from Beirut to Damascus. This bill seeks to honour their memory and, in addition, to commemorate the 164 Canadian Forces peacekeepers who have lost their lives in various missions around the world.
To further discuss this bill, I am pleased to introduce Mr. Brent St. Denis who has been the Member of Parliament for Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing since 1993. Mr. St. Denis first introduced this bill in the other place on May 16, 2007. We are pleased to have him here to talk about his private member's bill. I do not want to steal any of his thunder, but I understand that his bill passed with the unanimous consent of the House, which is no easy feat for a private member's bill.
Brent St. Denis, Member of Parliament for Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to your colleagues here today as we hopefully move this very important bill forward.
I want to acknowledge that we have veteran peacekeepers with us in the room. This bill attempts to honour them and the efforts of those who served in our military before them and those who will serve in the future. The bill recognizes the important historic place of peacekeeping in Canada's history, its important place today and in the future.
There are those much more qualified than I to speak about the history of peacekeeping, its importance and its role. I am pleased that we have Mr. Griffis and Mr. Gardam here this afternoon. Senator Eggleton will be here after he has finished another assignment. I certainly appreciate that he helped with this proposed legislation.
There are a couple reasons why I brought this bill forward. First, Mr. Pearson was the former member for the riding that I now represent. Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing is a large riding in northern Ontario of 110,000 square kilometres. A large core of that riding was represented by Mr. Pearson from 1948 to 1968. This bill is partly an acknowledgement of his important role in helping establish peacekeeping as an important UN function and Canada's place in it. It was only last year that we celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of Mr. Pearson receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in support of peacekeeping.
I also want to acknowledge the spark of an idea that came from Bob Manuel who is a Korean War veteran who lives in my riding. I was pleased to meet Bob among our visiting peacekeeping veterans here who lived in Elliot Lake in the early days of mining.
The most important thing to note is that men and women in the Canadian military serve selflessly. They serve with little regard for themselves. I have been a member of the House of Commons for nearly 15 years and like all other parliamentarians, I have celebrated with our veterans in commemoration of their service in the military.
It has been my experience, Mr. Chair, that the commemoration has become stronger and stronger every year. If I think back to the early days when I would participate in November 11 events, there would be a hardy, but usually small, number of legionnaires standing firm, usually in the cold weather in my part of the world.
Something has happened over the many years to strengthen that spirit of commemoration. I give most of the credit to our Canadian Legion, to organizations like the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping we have here today and many other organizations that believe in the spirit of commemoration as the best way to go forward in hoping we never experience war again.
We are a long way from that goal, but every journey starts with one step. These steps, year by year, keep reminding us of the importance of the constant search for peace in the world.
I will let my peacekeeping veteran colleagues here at the front talk more about the history. I am a Vice-Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs. I think this is significant. Yesterday, the Honourable Greg Thomson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, appeared before committee. As part of his presentation to the committee under the rubric of commemoration, he said that if all goes as planned, thanks to Mr. Brent St. Denis' private member's bill, we will mark our first national peacekeepers' day in August. That is, if nothing else, a message from the minister that he and the government are in support of this bill. You mentioned the unanimous support in the House. However, the Senate is entitled, as it should be, to make its own deliberations. I simply bring to you this message.
I would like to excerpt a few lines from a letter I received from Jack Simpson. His brother was among the nine that died on that fateful day, August 9, 1974. Although I do not have his letter in both languages nine fine Canadians among the 164 have lost their lives in service.
We could have picked any number of dates for the commemoration, but some five provinces and large cities have already declared national peacekeepers' day in their province or city. Ontario has done so, for example, as has Calgary. August 9 has been chosen by consensus simply because it was the day when we lost the largest number of peacekeepers in one day.
I will quote this letter from Jack Simpson dated about a year ago:
Peacekeepers' Day provides an opportunity to remember and honour those peacekeepers that have lost their lives in the service of peace while deployed on United Nations peacekeeping operations, or while serving on other UN mandated peace support deployments. Currently, they number more than 150.
We have since had some other casualties.
It also serves to recognize the commitment and sacrifice of all Canadian Forces members, RCMP, provincial and municipal police service members as well as civilians, who have served on UN-mandated peacekeeping and peace support operations around the world since 1945.
He then proceeds to list the provinces that have declared their own days. He also mentions his mother, Ms. Loyola Helen Park, a Silver Cross Mother.
The Chair: Mr. St. Denis, would you be prepared to file a copy of that letter with the clerk?
Mr. St. Denis: Yes, I brought a copy for the committee, Mr. Chair.
National peacekeepers' day is not a holiday, and our veterans here recognize that. It is simply a signpost on the "march of the year;'' August 9 of every year. It is another signpost of remembrance.
It is my view that part of the growth in the remembrance movement — in the expansion of that spirit of remembrance — is that we have more reminders. We are still focused on November 11 as the singular, uniting day of remembrance in Canada. However, much like the fact we have monuments sprinkled around the country near every legion — and several here in Ottawa — the reminders around the country act in support of that spirit of remembrance.
We celebrate the Battle of the Atlantic and the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
The Chair: The Battle of Britain.
Mr. St. Denis: Yes, the list goes on. These give the media an opportunity to report on a commemoration here or there. They are little reminders throughout the year that actually help build up towards November 11. Now we have the whole week of commemoration around November 11, which supports the notion that other days throughout the year are part of that whole movement.
Mr. Chair, I want to be sure that my friends here have as much time as they need to speak. You do not need to hear a whole lot from me. I hope the bill speaks for itself.
It is a very simple bill. We are not declaring a holiday. We are simply acknowledging that each year on August 9 will be national peacekeepers' day. It is not a day of debate over whether one operation or another is a peacekeeping operation. In fact, I deliberately did not define "peacekeeper'' allowing rather that individuals would define for themselves what a peacekeeping operation is and who a peacekeeper is. That is not for me to define. In fact, I think it is a definition that is best left open and flexible.
With that, Mr. Chair, I hand it back to you.
The Chair: Thank you, Mr. St. Denis. I think your presentation has been very helpful and succinct. We appreciate that.
Honourable senators would prefer if we heard from the other witnesses and then go to questions. With your indulgence, we will do that.
I would like to ask Colonel John Gardam (retired), a retired United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) peacekeeper to speak first. Mr. Gardam was a witness a couple of weeks ago. He served in a wide range of command and staff appointments in Canada, played a prominent part in various veterans' initiatives and is, in addition to all those efforts, is Curator of the Canadian Peacekeeping Monument.
Colonel (Ret'd) John Gardam, Curator of the Peacekeeping Monument, as an individual: Honourable senators, this is a great day for me. As Curator of the Peacekeeping Monument, this bill has been right on the front burner for me ever since it was first proposed. For years, we have celebrated United Nations Day in October. We found out just last year that most people have no idea what United Nations Day is. They cannot even remember when the United Nations first started.
As a peacekeeper, this day and this bill are very close in my heart. The events at the Peacekeeping Monument on August 9 will in fact, replace UN Day. We will not be celebrating two events. We will just celebrate the one.
The event is the only time in the year when all of the names of all those who have died serving in the name of peace are printed out. We used to read them out. When NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) began in Afghanistan, it was obvious that it was impossible to continue to read the names. We therefore print a handout. I can leave this list with you to give you an idea of what it was like as of October 21 last year.
The event here in Ottawa is produced and paid for by the Department of National Defence. They pay for the fly- past of helicopters, the band and so on. Now we own the first memorial mission wall in which every mission since Korea is carved in stone in both English and French. This year we will be adding two more missions to that wall. At the same time as we add missions, we also put the close-out date of those that finally have come to an end.
The organization of which I am a founding member, CAVUNP, was formed in October, 1992. I have watched with pleasure and amazement as this small organization has grown right across Canada.
It gives me a great pleasure to have beside me the national president of CAVUNP, who will give a short briefing on what this event means to us as Canadians and to all Canadians to have peacekeepers recognized wherever and whenever they served.
Ron Griffis, National President, Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping: Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, committee members and guests. My name is Ron Griffis, National President of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping.
On behalf of the CAVUNP, I wish to thank you for giving us this opportunity to appear before this committee, established in part to study Bill C-287, an Act respecting a National Peacekeepers' Day.
I appreciate you are aware that the day of August 9 was chosen as on that day in 1974, nine Canadian Forces peacekeepers were killed when their plane was shot down by a Syrian surface-to-air missile while en route from Beirut to Damascus on a regular resupply mission. There were no survivors. This does not take away from the fact that Canada's first casualty on a peacekeeping mission occurred in 1950 when Brigadier H.H. Angle of Kelowna, B.C., died in a plane crash in Kashmir on the border between India and Pakistan.
The Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping supports Bill C-287. A national peacekeepers' day would remember those who gave their lives while on peacekeeping missions, as sponsored by the Canadian government and the United Nations council. Such a day would also commemorate the brave deeds of peacekeepers, recognize the well over an estimated 300,000 Canadians who have participated in United Nations missions and thank their families and the Canadian people for their support.
Participants in United Nations peacekeeping missions include, but are not limited to, members of the Canadian Forces. They also include members of municipal, provincial and federal police forces, diplomats and countless civilians that have become peacekeepers and assisted peacekeepers on their missions.
Canadians are recognized as the inventors of peacekeeping. It has brought our country a Nobel Prize for peace and a share of a second when the United Nations peacekeepers were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1988. To date, I have not heard anyone opposed to establishing a national peacekeepers' day.
Although we have Remembrance Day, November 11 of each year, some cities and most provinces and territories have recognized August 9 as the day to remember and honour peacekeepers. A national peacekeepers' day would not take away from the importance of these two dates mentioned. In fact, it would complement them, taking into consideration why they are there and our present position on the world stage.
The Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal, established in 1997, is available to persons who have served on international peacekeeping missions. It is a relatively little known fact that the medal is available for those who may have served on any one of 114 peacekeeping missions. National peacekeepers' day would provide an opportunity to recognize and commemorate peacekeepers, past, present and future.
Canada's peacekeeping veterans have always sacrificed so much and given their best to ensure that our country remains strong, united, independent and free. Canada's peacekeeping veterans do not stop serving at the end of their military careers. Their tours of duty have provided them with tremendous insight and they continue to serve to make their communities and Canada a better place to live.
I would like to share two examples with you. First, as a member of my parent chapter in Greenwood, Nova Scotia, Cordell Levy regularly attends the veterans' wing at Middleton Hospital in Middleton, Nova Scotia, to give haircuts to aging veterans who cannot get out. Second is another member of my parent chapter, a lady by the name of Marie Vautour, herself a veteran, and also the spouse of a veteran peacekeeper who served on United Nations Emergency Force 1 in Suez. On a regular basis, she can be found in the kitchen of any one of several veterans' organizations — the Royal Canadian Legion, the Air Force Association of Canada and the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping — cooking meals for veterans, regular force personnel and their families. These are just two of the countless examples of service to the community, as previously mentioned.
Right across Canada, peacekeeping veterans are involved in countless activities that have been generated initially as a result of their services as peacekeepers Without question, one of the most successful ventures of a very much decorated peacekeeper is that of Peacekeepers Park and Buffalo Park, located in Garrison Green, Calgary, Alberta, brought to fruition by Col. (Ret'd) Don Ethell. Peacekeepers Park includes three elements — the Wall of Honour, the mission wall and a bronze sculpture.
The Wall of Honour commemorates the fallen peacekeepers who made the ultimate sacrifice. Their loss holds true as a symbol of the Canadian will to make the world a better place for all. The second wall lists the peacekeeping missions in which Canada has participated. The bronze sculpture shows an armed Canadian soldier offering an Izzy doll to a little girl.
During many of their missions, Canada's peacekeepers have been struck by the abject poverty and suffering of those less fortunate, especially the children. This sculpture epitomizes the dual role of Canadian peacekeepers in providing both professional military intervention and compassion. It would truly be an honour if the Canadian government announced that it would be taking another step to ensure that Canada is doing its best to recognize peacekeeping veterans.
Since receiving the invitation to appear before this honourable committee, and having shared the information with my colleagues in our association, I have received numerous messages of encouragement and hope that the National Peacekeepers' Day Act would be passed. I have also received messages of excitement from surviving relatives of those who were killed on August 9, 1974, in the hope that the sacrifices of their family members would be recognized on a national basis — in particular, Ms. Gloria Spencer, on behalf of Master Corporal Ronald Spencer. He was one of the Buffalo Nine.
It is probably a little known fact that peacekeepers may wear a United Nations blue beret, a green beret of the African Union Mission in Sudan, an orange beret of the Multinational Force of Observers and a dark blue beret of the European Union Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina, just to mention a few.
If our association can be of any assistance in any way to facilitate the passing of this bill, please do not hesitate to call upon me personally or any of our members. In conclusion, if you have any questions or any areas that I may be able to clarify, I am prepared to be of assistance.
The Chair: Perhaps before turning to the senators for the questions, I could acknowledge and welcome our colleague, Senator Eggleton, who was the Senate sponsor of this bill. Senator Eggleton, Mr. St. Denis has provided a very eloquent and succinct expose of his bill, which is the bill that is before us. Please feel free to add your words of insight, following which we will go to questions.
Hon. Art Eggleton, sponsor of the bill: I will keep it very brief. I am sure those who have spoken before have covered the territory in terms of this bill and what we hope to accomplish.
I am pleased to be the Senate sponsor for a bill that was initiated by Brent St. Denis in the House of Commons. I am pleased to come here today and see all these folks with blue jackets on. I have seen them many times in the past, and I think it is important to recognize the great accomplishments of our peacekeepers over the years.
Over 100,000 of them have participated in peacekeeping missions; 114 have lost their lives in these missions. Not only do we recognize the people in the military who have participated in this, but there are so many others. Part of rebuilding the civil society involves a lot of humanitarian work and we have had people from Foreign Affairs, CIDA, the RCMP, provincial and municipal police forces, municipal administrators and judges — a wide range of people who can be proud of the service they provided to our country in helping to make the world a better place through these missions. It gives us an opportunity to recognize all of them as well through Bill C-287.
The day in August is an appropriate one to do it. It was the biggest single loss of our peacekeepers on that day a number of years ago. I think this bill is worthy of support by this committee, and hopefully the entire Senate, so that we can have this kind of commemoration for our peacekeepers starting this year.
Senator Downe: I support the bill, and I want to congratulate Brent St. Denis for initiating it; it is long overdue. Colonel Gardam, in his comments, indicated that DND pays for the ceremonies in Ottawa. Let me advise you, chair, how it is done in Prince Edward Island.
They have a wonderful ceremony every August 9. It is at the Service Memorial Monument, directly across the street from the Daniel J. McDonald, the national headquarters for Veterans Affairs Canada. I have been honoured to be invited and have attended the last number of years.
I was surprised the first year I attended at the large number of Prince Edward Islanders who participated in UN peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world. There is a good turnout every year, and I know they would be very supportive of this bill to celebrate this important date in honouring those who have served our country in so many different ways.
I should mention in passing that Veterans Affairs Canada offers their foyer afterward for a reception, and I believe that some of the members go down to the Legion for further celebrations. I support the bill and I support Mr. St. Denis for introducing it.
Senator Dallaire: I am replacing Senator Day as a voting member of the committee today. Certainly, I am pleased that this bill has come closer to becoming law in this country.
Commemoration is to remind us of our past deeds and those who have committed such great effort, in the extreme at times. Some who have participated have been left injured by these deeds. People must have a place to go to and a ceremony to participate in as a way also to inspire future generations to commit.
The more you take care of your veterans, the more people are prepared to commit to them. They know then that the nation is respectful and thankful and will take care of them and their families. In this era, we see not only soldiers, civilian policemen, RCMP and others but also civilians intimately involved in operations. In fact, peacekeeping, peacemaking and conflict resolution call for the absolute integration of diplomats, humanitarians, NGOs, nation builders and public servants from other departments who do not necessarily have VAC protection but are committed to the operations nonetheless.
I come to the issue of not defining this for the military only and making it large for all who have committed to peacekeeping through missions in line with the medal that was struck in 1997. That medal represented a superb philosophy of those who have gone on these missions.
Do you see the commemoration taking on a grander design such that for people who have served on missions, for example NGOs, there would be a means of recognition in the rubric of peacekeeping or peacemaking to make it their day as well? Is the concept being sold on that basis? Is that the intent? I turn to Mr. St. Denis.
Mr. St. Denis: Thank you for the excellent question, senator. The bill before the committee is in its amended form. If I may quote from the Preamble, which states:
. . . Canadian Forces participating in peacekeeping and peace support operations along with many members of Canadian police services, diplomats and civilians;
Wisely, the amendment was made by the House of Commons committee in anticipation of your good question because, indeed, peacekeeping involves other Canadians beyond the military. The military forms the core — they are the backbone — but it is necessary to involve municipal police, provincial police, the RCMP, NGOs and others who also commit to peacekeeping. In leaving the definition open-ended, it is in the mind of the beholder. When it comes to August 9, if the bill is adopted and becomes law, there will be a little bit of impetus to open and embrace military and non-military in that commemoration.
Senator Eggleton: When I gave my remarks, I singled out the fact that there are more than military involved, as proud as we are of what they do. I did that specifically because I see this as not only a recognition of the past but also an encouragement for the future.
Senator Dallaire: We have taken casualties in our NGOs. An ex-captain who was in Iraq or Afghanistan was killed working for the National Red Cross. As well, a diplomat was killed in Afghanistan and a number of civilians have been casualties in other missions. I can name many from my mission alone who returned home affected for life for having been there.
Do we envision an expansion of the sale of this commemoration date, for example to have CIDA and Foreign Affairs involved with the NGO community structures? The Royal Canadian Legion takes care of November 11 commemorations but do we envision another body taking the lead responsibility in this new commemoration. In Calgary, it is all military. The monument here, Colonel Gardam, has three military personnel on it. Who will take on the responsibility for the parade and so on, which would include honouring members of other departments, civilians, NGOs and others? Have you looked at an introduction of civilians into this exercise?
Mr. Griffis: Our association spans right across Canada from Newfoundland and Labrador to Victoria, British Columbia. As our membership expands, it is only reasonable that the members you mentioned would be welcomed into the association. With the necessary amendments, I see no difficulty with that, bearing in mind that although the Royal Canadian Legion is an excellent organization, there is room for other organizations to grow.
Senator Dallaire: This is not an insignificant gesture. Recognizing the smart definition of "peacekeeper'' in the bill, will someone pick up the ball and expand this to the same degree as the other players to include them in this day? Will you folks handle this expansion to have others join? Will they participate in the funding? Will there be an amendment to the monument? Is movement anticipated to make this one reflect all elements of Canadian society that commit to overseas peacekeeping?
Mr. Griffis: The answer to your question is yes. As a matter of fact, the definition as put in the act has been expanded, not on the record, but generally with respect to peace support operations as well as peacemaking operations, bearing in mind there is a substantial difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking as we presently on the world stage are involved in that particular aspect. I look at it from a very positive point of view, yes.
Mr. St. Denis: From my experience participating in commemorative events, to see growth in that spirit of commemoration there has to be buy-in. If there is an invitation, which I believe is the message you are getting, to the broader peacekeeping/peace support community and people feel that they can own part of that commemoration, they will come in.
As one MP, it will not and should not be my job to make that magically happen. It will be because people buy into it and see the value. Having bought in, this spark will grow into a flame. I believe that is what we all wish, but it will only happen if others wish it as well.
Senator Nancy Ruth: I, too, support the bill, and I appreciate Mr. St. Denis' and Senator Eggleton's list of the kinds of folks who keep the peace.
My concern, Mr. St. Denis, is that, although the wording of the bill has changed, the summary still reads:
This enactment establishes a day to honour Canadian Forces peacekeepers.
I do not know whether expanding that would have any impact on the interpretation of this bill, but that sentence clearly, to me, excludes your intent to keep it broad and Senator Eggleton's list of the many kinds of folks who do keep and make the peace. In the event that it might, I would propose the following amendment, at least to the summary:
This enactment establishes a day to honour Canadian Forces peacekeepers and all Canadians who secure, make and attempt to keep the peace.
We have to do something to push this further. I am not confident, Mr. Griffis and Colonel Gardam, that you will actually and actively solicit all of the many NGOs that work to keep the peace. It is that lack of confidence, because I do not know how you will describe your monument. For me, it is not enough only to celebrate the forces in this item.
The Chair: I take your point, and I am sure one of these gentlemen would like to answer. I stand to be corrected on this, but I believe that the summary is not part of the bill.
Senator Nancy Ruth: No, it is not, but it does set the flavour, and it only talks about the Canadian Forces.
The Chair: Hopefully our witnesses will set the flavour.
Mr. Gardam: Mr. Chair, I was there when we built the monument. I followed the instructions from General de Chastelain in its design and purpose, and you are absolutely right, senator; we never thought of anyone other than uniformed people.
The only place on the monument is the very first inscription saying "Canadian Forces have served in all the missions on this wall.'' It is quite easy, I have learned, to change inscriptions. We could just take out the word "Forces.'' That would enable us to encompass everyone who served under the Government of Canada and went into a foreign land to try to proclaim peace in whatever form they are asked to do it.
Senator Nancy Ruth: I would be delighted if you could do that. Keeping the peace is what happens after the military pulls out and the NGOs are still dealing with the surviving children of war, raped women, et cetera. It is those people who try to set up justice systems and ensure access to them, who train the judges, who send doctors, who train the police, et cetera, who need to be recognized.
I would appreciate if that could be done on the monument for sure, but none of these NGOs have any volunteer time to build themselves into these ceremonies, just like an MP cannot do it all. Sometimes it takes retired folks who have a little bit of energy and concern to push that envelope. That is all I am asking for.
Mr. St. Denis: Senator, I am glad we have a Senate. I would have to get advice from legal counsel, but I think the chair is right that the summary is not part of the legal document. If I, or Senator Eggleton as sponsor here, simply told the printer to add or drop words, that may be all that is required. It may be nothing more complicated than dropping the word "Forces,'' and having the summary say, "This enactment establishes a day to honour Canadian peacekeepers.''
Senator Nancy Ruth: I would like to expand that, though, because the forces secure the peace. Politicians tend to make the peace. Those who keep the peace are the police and NGOs. There are three different specific kinds of peacekeeping, and I would like them identified and included. There may be many others that I do not know about.
The Chair: One thing we learned in law school is that the more you identify, the more you overlook. It is very dicey.
The summary, of course, vanishes when the act becomes law. If senators want to include an observation, we could do that. I would hope senators would not want to amend the bill, because then we may not get the bill passed before the recess, at the very earliest.
Senator Eggleton: I think we are putting this recognition in the framework of international peacekeeping operations. Most of them have been under the aegis of the United Nations, but not all. Most of them have a defined set of goals and countries that operate within them, and we are talking within that kind of framework.
It is good that people have worked at peace in many other respects at many other times, but this is in the context of peacekeeping missions that the country enters into.
Senator Downe: I want to support that point. When the bill is enacted, the summary disappears.
Also, an amendment to the preamble covers off Senator Nancy Ruth's point in that it talks about members of the Canadian police service, diplomats and civilians. Those words are a catch-all for the people we are concerned about.
I would draw the committee's attention to the practical experience I had in Prince Edward Island, where it is service memorial monument. It is not called a peacekeeping monument. It is a separate monument done through private fundraising and assistance from the community. It is a service memorial monument for all those who served Canada and the world in various areas — the peacekeeping, regular forces, civilians, police, the Red Cross, and so on, all of whom are honoured with this one monument.
On August 9, the peacekeepers come to celebrate at that monument. Others can come on other dates. That may be a model we want to consider throughout Canada.
Senator Dallaire: As an example, in the philosophy that has been articulated by Mr. St. Denis and what we were getting at, it would have been interesting to have an NGO representative sitting with you, rather than our gang, to reflect the all-encompassing nature of this bill, which, I believe, is what you want to achieve. I believe that is what the House of Commons wants to achieve also.
Col. Gardam indicated a gesture regarding the Peacekeeping Monument, which would make it a peacekeeping monument in that context and not have it linked to the forces, without reducing the importance of the forces. Other people are dying and are being injured, and other people are intrinsic to the success of those missions, from the chief administrative officer to the contractors. A number of these people are out there to ensure that a mission can happen.
I think you have hit it perfectly with the bill. The question is will we follow it up in that same context. Will the veterans in uniform demonstrate openness, as you seem to Mr. Gardam, to take actions with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, see the NGOs, and bring them in to participate on that day? Would we even see something more significant at the monument? I will be a heretic here and say that you should add a fourth person to that monument, namely, someone in civilian dress. I do this to give you a heart attack.
Historically, the peacekeeping and military dimensions, even in chapter 6, were the dominant element. There is no doubt; that no longer exists. Those CIDA people in Afghanistan and those diplomats in Afghanistan, as is the case with our soldiers, are taking shots, getting injured and getting killed as we man those missions. It is no longer the pure business of the military, even in peacemaking missions, let alone conflict resolution.
This is a bill for the future and not a bill only for the past. The bill should be an encouragement for Canadian youth to serve either in uniform or as an NGO or as a diplomat or as a nation-builder and to us to go beyond the borders of this nation to assist those nations who need us.
The Chair: Mr. St. Denis, you have been very patient.
Mr. St. Denis: Inasmuch as the summary disappears with the enactment of a bill, I would suggest that the title satisfies the senator. It is An Act respecting a National Peacekeepers' Day. That is pretty open, I would say.
The Chair: I think everyone in Quebec knows the meaning of les Casques bleus and the House of Commons inserted that phrase for greater certainty. Mr. Griffis, you pointed out that those who served in the African mission in Sudan and in other such missions could wear a different colour beret. Are we creating any confusion, or am I the only one who might be confused? Would all of our citizens have served in UN missions and, therefore, be entitled, as I read your paragraph, to wear a blue beret?
Mr. Griffis: Yes.
The Chair: If they are seconded or somehow end up in Bosnia Herzegovina with the European Union Force, they might also wear a dark blue beret.
Mr. Griffis: Yes.
We do not differentiate between that. We look to a member to be a member. I appreciate that there may be other organizations that have a very strict code with respect to what they wear on their head on parade. Our organization accepts that the Guardien de la paix wear a casque bleu. We initially brought that out, but that was changed. Our members from Quebec brought to our attention the fact that the proper wording would be a "guardien de la paix'' as opposed to "casque bleu.'' There was another organization out of Fredericton, New Brunswick called the blue helmets. However, there would be absolutely no problem with what the member would wear on parade with respect to their beret.
In conclusion, I would ask that the Senate have confidence in our organization to move forward and to include all of those persons who do not necessarily wear the uniform.
The Chair: Thank you, Mr. Griffis.
Senator Dallaire: The term Guardien de la paix — they were right on the French side — is a term used for prison guards. Without putting that qualifier there, it would create a problem in French Quebec, which is not the case in the English version.
[Translation]
The Chair: We have justices of the peace!
Senator Dallaire: Yes, from time to time!
[English]
The Chair: Any other questions, senators? Is it agreed that the subcommittee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-287, An Act respecting a National Peacekeepers' Day?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Shall the title stand postponed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Shall the preamble stand postponed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Shall clause 1, the short title, stand postponed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Shall clause 2 carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Shall clause 3 carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Shall the preamble carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Shall clause 1, the short title, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Shall the title carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Shall the bill carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Does the committee wish to discuss any amendments or observations?
Senator Nancy Ruth: I would like to add an observation.
The Chair: We can go in camera or stay in public session for this.
Senator Nancy Ruth: I do not care.
The Chair: Does anyone want to go in camera? We will stay in open session, then. Is that agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Senator Dallaire: That is fine.
Senator Nancy Ruth: I would like to put in some kind of comment. Is this supposed to be "wordsmithed'' right now?
The Chair: Yes.
Senator Nancy Ruth: Given the testimony of all parties, we would like to encourage — what did you say, Senator Eggleton, about expanding hope or something? You said that you saw this as hopeful.
Senator Eggleton: Not only recognition of the past but also an encouragement for the future.
Senator Nancy Ruth: I like that. Will you note that please, Ms. Anwar? This would include all civilians that have worked over the centuries, decades, or whatever, in the cause of peace.
The Chair: Could we say, "to promote peace''?
Senator Nancy Ruth: Yes, something like that.
Senator Dallaire: I think if you go to the peace medal and what is written there, you would find the words that Senator Nancy Ruth is trying to get at in terms of the all-encompassing dimension of those Canadian who are involved in the process of peace and peacemaking abroad. That might be helpful to get a neater wording for it.
The Chair: Senator Nancy Ruth, we can discuss it a bit further, but, given the time constraints, it might be possible for a motion to be made whereby, if we hear agreement, that the chair and the deputy chair or the deputy chair's representative come up with the final wording along the suggested lines.
Senator Nancy Ruth: Are you putting this in the Senate this afternoon or tomorrow?
The Chair: No, it must go to the main committee.
Senator Nancy Ruth: We are a week away. That is heaps of time.
The Chair: May I suggest this motion that the chair and the deputy chair, or his representative of the subcommittee, approve the final version of the observation being appended to the report taking into consideration today's discussion and with any necessary editorial, grammatical or translation changes required.
Senator Nancy Ruth: I second.
Senator Downe: I do not have a problem with that, but I do have a concern as to how long it would take. This will not cause a delay of weeks; will it? If I could have some certainty on the time frame, I would feel comfortable voting for it.
Senator Nancy Ruth: This is Wednesday. The Library of Parliament should give you that wording of the memo by tomorrow.
Senator Dallaire: I can get that from the director of history and heritage at National Defence this afternoon.
The Chair: I will take up Senator Dallaire's offer to get that. We have to report it Monday. We will have it Monday.
Senator Downe: All things being equal, you will have it Monday. Thank you.
The Chair: If that is agreeable.
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Then it is agreed that this bill be reported without amendment and with observations to the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence at the earliest opportunity.
Senator Downe: Agreed.
The Chair: Agreed?
Senator Dallaire: Yes, agreed.
The Chair: Thank you. The motion is carried.
Honourable senators, that brings us to the close of this hearing. I want to thank you for your very helpful participation. I want to, as Senator Eggleton did, recognize and thank les Casques bleus for their participation and their obvious and understandable keen interest in this matter. I think Mr. St. Denis should take great credit and pride in what he has achieved, and with Senator Eggleton's support in the Senate and the support of other colleagues in the Senate, August 9 will be a proud day. I know we will all wish to celebrate on that occasion.
Are there any other comments or questions?
Mr. St. Denis: May I say thank you to the subcommittee for its work today and to my good friend Honourable Art Eggleton for his help with the bill and our veterans here. Thank you very much.
The Chair: Thanks to you and to all the witnesses.
The committee adjourned.